Cadillac has made a number of small interior detail changes to the '97
DeVilles, but the only one of real significance is the addition of side
airbags up front, the first domestic cars so equipped. Offering enhanced
side impact protection for the upper torso, the bags deploy from the door
panel.
Another addition--Cadillac's optional OnStar system--is also significant.
Similar in concept to Lincoln's RESCU system, the satellite-based OnStar
system keeps track of the car's whereabouts and can handle the old keys-locked-in-the-car
dilemma in a flash--no waiting around for the locksmith or AAA.
It can also track the vehicle if it's stolen, and handle personal services
like hotel and airline reservations, or tell you the location of the nearest
ATM. What'll they think of next?
Like its formal exterior, the interior of the DeVille is a tastefully
traditional blend of leather and wood that strikes a warm contrast with
all the car's electronic wizardry.
There's plenty of room for five in this big cabin--even six, if you
like--and if the leather-clad front seats are devoid of lateral support,
they're living-room comfortable, regardless of how long you sit there.
Orchestral audio, automatic climate control, power everything and multiple
presets for seats, mirrors, climate, and audio settings head a long list
of hedonistic creature comforts. Check the data panel for details.
Although sound system upgrades are offered, the only significant item
that's not part of the standard equipment is a power moonroof, which added
$1550 to our test car's price. Seat heaters added an additional $225, and
chromed aluminum alloy wheels--an option we could do without--cost $1195.
Thanks to its variable shock damping, the Concours suspension automatically
firms up in hard cornering, which helps to reduce body roll and sharpen
the car's responses.
The priority is still strongly weighted toward cushiony ride quality,
but it's a far cry from the flabby wallow that was a common trait of old-time
Caddies. Improvements to the variable assist power steering help out in
this respect, as do structural tweaks to the chassis, which enhance handling
and sound isolation.
As advanced as they are, Cadillac's stability enhancement systems wouldn't
be nearly as attractive if they weren't hustled along by lots of V8 engine
power. But they are, and hustle is the right word. The superb Northstar
V8, with 300 horsepower on tap in the Concours (275 in the other DeVilles)
can haul this big mama to 60 mph in just over seven seconds. And in normal
driving the Concours will deliver surprisingly good fuel economy for a
car that weighs more than a good many sport-utility vehicles.
We recorded 24 mpg during one mostly-rural run, and the EPA highway
rating is 26 mpg. But that presumes you'll be able to keep your right foot
from tapping into all that power, something that's hard to resist.
There's only one small asterisk to the Northstar's blazing performance--a
slight hint of torque steer when the driver applies full throttle at low
speed. A once common trait in all front-drive cars, it's a sin that's been
largely conquered, but the Northstar Cadillacs are sending more power to
their front wheels than any cars on the planet, and the drive system can't
quite manage it seamlessly.